Cancer
Association between physical activity and quality of life among gynecologic cancer survivors in North Carolina Mu Jin* Mu Jin Jordyn A. Brown Taylor Ellington Rina A. Yarosh Yung-Fang Deng Adrian A. Gerstel Laura Farnan Hazel Nichols
Background: Physical activity (PA) can be beneficial for cancer survivors who may experience quality of life (QoL) impairments due to reduced physical function, treatment-related side effects, and psychological burdens. This analysis aims to examine the association between PA and QoL among female gynecologic cancer survivors in North Carolina (NC).
Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of NC women with a registry-confirmed gynecological cancer diagnosis enrolled in the University of North Carolina Cancer Survivorship Cohort. PA levels were assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, and QoL was measured via the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global 10. PROMIS scores were centered on the general U.S. population, with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. Multivariate linear regression models were used to assess the mean differences between cancer survivors with different PA levels, adjusting for covariates, including age at enrollment, race/ethnicity, BMI, education, cancer type, time since diagnosis, and any cancer treatment.
Results: The analytical sample included 669 women with a mean age of 59.9 years (SD=12.2). The mean global mental health (GMH) score was 50.1, similar to the general U.S. population, while the global physical health (GPH) score (46.2) was slightly lower than the broader population. Overall, ~74% (N=493) of survivors reported a Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA) less than the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommended 150 min/wk and were categorized as inactive or insufficiently active. Compared to inactive or insufficiently active survivors, active survivors (N=176) had significantly higher QoL scores (beta=2.5, P<.001 for GMH and beta=3.1, P<.001 for GPH), adjusting for all covariates.
Conclusion: Inactiveness or insufficient PA was common among gynecological cancer survivors living in NC and was associated with worse self-reported mental and physical health status.